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Coast to Coast (Alaska to Kenya) Please tell me you sang that in Sade's voice ! I wrote this at a beach cafe in Watamu, Kenya- Watamu translates to "Land of the Sweet People" and my experience here has been filled with kind humans, warm sun, and a continuous ocean breeze. I am at the tail end of four months on the road and will be back in Austin very soon. It's been an amazing summer, but I feel my studio calling me home. This newsletter contains some reflections on my time away- I always worry about leaving my work but the travel has brought clarity and renewal in a way I could not have imagined. I often need the reminder to slow down and not be in a rush. So if you've got time for a bit of a read, I'd like to share a little bit of my journey with you all :)  Land of the Midnight Sun This photo was taken by my partner Will on the summer solstice at 2am! We went almost a whole summer without seeing a sunset (it feels a lot stranger than you think) but we loved every minute of it. We worked as guides for 8 weeks together and it felt like everyday the landscape changed. We found ourselves saying wow, look at that! every two seconds. It's a land of jaw dropping beauty and it is really hard to not be grateful to be existing in its presence every day. The work kept us busy but getting to guide with Will gave the season a refreshing new twist. Traveling to a place as a guide is much different than traveling for fun- it's like taking a crash course on the entire geological and human history of the region plus learning about the flora and fauna all while figuring out the tour logistics. ~It's a lot~ but the hard work you put in up front gifts you so much in return. You leave with a deep appreciation for why things are the way the are and an in depth glance at the struggles that area may face. Most importantly, you learn that you can create a home wherever you go because simply, you are there. I feel grateful to have gotten a small glimpse of Alaska over a few amazing months. My First Artist Retreat I got to participate in my first 'artist retreat' for most of September! I have wanted to visit Kenya since I was a little girl, so when I won a voucher for a trip with Noma Collective, I knew this was the destination to pick. It's funny how some places call to you. The retreat was self guided, and while it wasn't as 'productive' as I may have thought, the impact this country has had on me personally is hard to quantify. The past few years I have found myself struggling to create more than I used to. I became an artist because I wanted to make art that was impactful. Turning that passion into a business while staying true to that goal has been a challenge to say the least and is something that I am still working to find balance. I am truly grateful that this retreat has reminded me to turn back inward to my still small voice. There’s a lot I want to say and I think I became afraid of saying anything. I've been carrying so much sadness for the world and I think a piece of me thought that if I let any of it out I may not be able to put it together again. Finding hope and putting in the work in the midst of so much grief is the only way forward. I’m hoping this new series can do a better job at saying something than I have recently. I know now more than ever that the sadness we carry and the joy we experience can coexist - and I feel ready to put myself back out there again very soon.  New Series, Parting Reflections
I was simultaneously working on a large scale series while taking breaks to work on smaller landscapes before I left. The two works in progress above show a glimpse into my studio - the piece on the left is part of the series I'm working on while the one on the right is a standalone. I very rarely show larger works in progress but I have set some new intentions for this community space and one is to be a bit more vulnerable. I'm not quite ready to dive into the meaning of the new work yet, but creatively it feels a bit like letting the sun shine on my face again. Just looking at this photo makes me so excited to return to my safe space and finally finish these paintings! This third series has been a labor of love but I've been reminded recently that we don't have to go on the journey alone. I see the work so many of you are doing and it's freakin' inspiring. So thank you for reminding me the work is worth it, keep shining.
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 It's summer break and I've got a few pretty exciting announcements! I'm writing from my current happy place (my living room couch) and soaking in my last week of slowness. I've got some summer travel coming up including an artist retreat, a painting competition and the start of a new decade of life. So buckle up, this letter has quite a bit to it- but I promise to finish out with all the deets on my annual Studio Sale!  From Alaska to Kenya & Back*cue Maggie Rogers- Alaska* As some of you may know, I spend my summers working part time as an adventure tour guide! It's taken me all over this amazing country and I'm excited to say I will be spending this summer in Alaska. My partner Will and I will be working for National Geographic guiding their Family Journeys with G Adventures. I'm stoked to get 8 weeks up there - we actually have to transport our work vehicle from Vegas to Alaska so we've got a pretty epic road trip together through Western Canada ahead! I'll be sharing some of it over on my personal instagram @ericaprasad if you're interested. After we finish up the season, I'm planning to spend some time with my family, celebrate my 30th birthday and visit my best friend for her bridal shower in Portland, ME. Then I'm headed to Kenya! Long story short I won a voucher and I'll be participating in a 3 week artist retreat on the coast- Watamu to be exact. If you've got any Kenya tips I'd gladly take them! I'm going on my own and am excited to see how the incredible country influences my art. All in all, I will be on the road 4 months with my trusty mini paint set until I return to Austin in October.  Art 64 Painting Competition My most random announcement is that I was accepted into Art64 painting competition! If you've ever wondered how to support a pal for free from your couch, this is it hehe. The competition is a two day bracket style tournament taking place in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. We will go head to head but the crowd votes in person and online to decide who moves forward! We do receive money for each round we make it to, and the sole winner wins $20k. Wild right? Would be life-changing. Regardless, I am excited to try my hand at something new and push myself outside my comfort zone. I'll share all the voting details when the competition takes place June 7-9 but you can visit art64tosa.com for more details if you're curious!  New Work, Sneak Peek
I rarely share my works in progress when it is part of a larger series but I wanted to give you all a sneak peek- the picture is the outline if you can make it out. Something about these works feels different. I can’t describe it but there’s something moving through me as a painter in a new way. Each time I’ve worked on this new series, I walk out of my studio feeling lighter and for the first time, I’m not worried about what may become of them. I just feel gratitude for the opportunity to spend time creating them in my small corner of the universe. The paintings feel like returning to a voice I hadn’t let speak in awhile and I'm excited to see where they take me. Working on such a large scale series + summer travel means I won't have a lot of new work to share over the next few months but that's okay. Great things take time and I'm excited to be present in the process this time around. Whew, thanks for making it here. Sending each of you the biggest hug. <3  Hello! Good to See Ya Again It's been a long time since I sent a newsletter out- a year and a half to be exact. I'm not sure how the time passed so quickly but I've got a few updates to fill you in on! Bear with me- this love letter holds a Liminal Space recap, a reflection on my year away from Austin, and a brand new small collection, Film Studies.  Liminal Space Recap It's been over a year since Liminal Space. This series felt like the first time I pushed the boundary of what I thought was possible in my art. I didn't know how it would be received or if the installation I was imagining in my head would work. I remember feeling so nervous to show anyone these because they felt so real but the moment the show opened, the anxiety vanished. This series was received with more love than I could have imagined. We laughed and cried and healed in this space. It was one of the most beautiful nights of my life and I can still feel the energy buzzing through me over a year later. If you're interested, the few pieces left are finally available for purchase on my website here. It takes a village to put something like this on and I am grateful to so many people who went out of their way to make the show happen. This series sparked something in me that has been swirling around for awhile, and I am just about to dive back in (more on that later).  A Year 'Sabbatical' Around the time I finished Liminal Space, I received an offer to move to Hawai'i for a year. It came at a time when I was in desperate need of a break and the idea of a literal breath of fresh air was too good to pass up. Before the pandemic, I worked as an adventure tour guide and lived out of a backpack for quite a few years. Being a nomad was such a core part of who I was before I moved to Austin and started doing art full time. It's a piece of myself I had felt like I'd given up so when I was given the opportunity to do it again, I wanted to give it a try. I knew it was just a temporary pause to the art making- an opportunity to live life and do some traveling while gaining inspiration along the way. To encourage myself to maintain a creative practice, I bought a point and shoot film camera. I used it to capture moments I wanted to explore in the studio when I got back. It kept me connected to my practice and also made my transition back to the studio so much easier after returning to Austin. This leads me to my next announcement..  Film Studies is my latest small collection! It is the fulfillment of a promise I made to myself when I left over a year ago. Past me had a feeling coming back might feel hard- having to decide what to paint while also trying to find my flow again could feel overwhelming. Taking photos with the intention of painting them gave me a way to jump back into the studio while also soaking in the adventure from the past year. Once I got my new studio set up, I picked out 12 small canvases and got to work. These pieces were a labor of love for awhile. I felt like I was moving at a snail's pace when I was used to being a sprinter. However, they returned me to my practice and I am so proud of the final result. Here's a few below but they are all available on my website now :)  My 'sabbatical' was one of the most wild, beautiful and challenging years of my life.
Internally I felt like I was going through a washing machine but I came out the other side with my feet feeling more grounded than they have in a long time. There was a piece of me that worried I would never find my flow again if I took time off but I am happy to report I'm currently full throttle in the studio working on something big. Stay tuned :) I am so grateful to each of you for being here. Thanks for reading this far and I hope to see some of your lovely faces very soon.  I am so excited to announce my first solo show! (What?!) This is big dream step and I am smiling right now as I type this. The series is near and dear to my heart- inspired by a trip 'home' to India for the first time, it's a story of the connection that spans oceans and generations. The people and places depicted have shaped me in ways I cannot fully comprehend, yet I recognize the love shared across borders is not unique. It is an integral part of so many of our families. Featuring 15 unreleased oil paintings, the work invites you into the space to feel seen and cherished for who you are and where you come from. The Details Date: Sunday, September 12th, 2021 Time: 11-6pm Location: The Cathedral 2403 E 16th St, Austin, TX Tickets: $15, available through Eventbrite Includes entry to the show, live music by the incredible Alex Saxon & a complimentary open bar. Tickets are broken into 3 time slots: 11-2, 2-4 & 4-6pm.  Connection explores what it means to come home: home to those who share your blood, and home to yourself. It tells a story of passage and a story of love. In a time when human connection has been so limited, I hope my work reminds us that there is still beauty in the world if we pause and take a moment to see it.
I hope to see all of your lovely faces there! If you are not local to Austin or are unable to make it, I would greatly appreciate you sharing it with a friend who might enjoy the show. Thank you for all the love, support and excitement thus far and for being a part of this journey. My heart is so full.  A verse from Ben Rector's I Like You
While it's a love song, this sentiment has stuck with me for years. These past few months have had their ups and downs (in case you missed it, Texas went through a snowpocalypse and I hit a bird that to be honest, changed my life). I have not sent an update in awhile because truthfully, I have not felt like I have that much to report. No huge news, no giant releases, just good old fashioned progress happening in the studio. As I mentioned previously, I am working my way to my first solo show and I am keeping those pieces a secret for now. Stay tuned for sneak peek later this summer! So today I just wanted to say hello, share a few new pieces and remind you that even if you feel like you have nothing to say, sometimes celebrating the little wins, the walks in between, is what makes it all worthwhile. It has been a tough year for all of us and I would be remiss if I said these past few months have been easy. However, it has taught me a lot about how to love and celebrate the process instead of the result. So, if that resonates with you, I would love to hear your stories of 2021 so far- What is something you are celebrating? What is something you have noticed that makes a difference in your everyday life? If you’ve known me for awhile, you know dance has been a huge part of my life. Movement still is. I believe moving has the power to help us grieve, process, and heal in ways that free us. I hadn’t “danced” in a long time and wasn’t even sure I still considered myself a dancer. However, I realized the more you create, the more creativity flows and it’s not just ok but encouraged to jump between different mediums. It’s been a minute since my roommate Gaby and I collaborated on a video but when I heard this song it just felt right. It's lyrics spoke to me in a way that many other songs haven't this year and it message feels particularly pertinent today. “But don't cover up your scars for me And every single choice that you made Was a stone in the path to this place And every single cut that you claim Has led you this way, so lay your head on me” - Marcus Mumford About the PieceGrief. Loss. With so much injustice in the world and our own personal struggles, it is easy to close yourself off from feeling. However, I truly believe it is only when we allow the world’s crosses to break our hearts, that we can piece ourselves back together to create a heart that may be fractured, but full.
Moving my body and getting outside are two ways I have learned to process and release. It helps remind me of the strength of our spirits. We have so much to offer even if we are still healing. And there is joy in the process of returning home to yourself and of sharing it with those you love around you. Healing. Support. Movement. Resilience. Peace. Hope. The Human Spirit. I hope we captured even a glimmer of the feeling of the words above. This piece was created through 100% improvisational movement. Gaby and I spent a good few hours clipping it together to take an experience and to create a story. I hope you can find a piece of your journey within it as well.
I picked up a paintbrush for the first time since college a year ago today! Woowee it’s been a journey and I am teary eyed just thinking about it. This basement studio at my parents house holds all the memoriess and I’m so grateful for my family believing in my dreams way before I did. It was just me, some paint, and a bunch of spiders figuring it out one day at a time. 👩ðŸ½â€ðŸŽ¨
Featuring the very first layer of a painting that would become the start of many!  “Stream” 8x16 oil on canvas, making its debut. Photos never really do the texture/colors justice but alas. Normally I’m all for sharing the inspiration behind a piece but this one, created as part of my ‘Rain’ series, feels a bit more personal. The actual act of creating it was special and I feel a small piece of my heart lives in these strokes. So if that rings true with you, maybe consider being this paintings’s new home! It’d look 😍 in a float frame on a nice wall. Anyway, that’s all I got on this Thursday at noon, hope everyone out there is having a good one 👍🏽 This piece is available 💕
 It’s been a year since I flew home from Toronto with zero idea what my future held. I wish I could tell my past self how much would change and how much she would grow over the next 12 months. I also wish I could tell her she’d have a studio filled with her own work, shared with rad friends, and a super cool roomie to take her pics in it! So, after all the journal entries, tears, glasses of wine, phone calls to mom/sis and a lot of yoga, she’d finally feel like she was in the right place. And in this moment, with all the madness in the world swirling around her, she could find a small slice of peace in her heart by knowing that there is always a home within her to come back to.
     ✨New original mini paintings in the shop! ✨ This is one of the few releases of oil paintings for the next few months because I’m working on some long term goals. If you’d like to read more, check out my latest newsletter. Link in bio!
In order: • “Sunrise at Zabriski” 8x16 • “Winter in the Rockies” 8x10 • “Mother Moon” 8x10 • “Pink Flower” 4x6 • “Sunrise at El Cap” 4x6 I rarely work this small on canvas so these were a fun “break” from some larger pieces! Check out more images on my Etsy and message me if you have any questions/inquiries! 💕 |
AuthorHi! It's me, Erica. This is my website- And my blog! Archives
September 2024
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